STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1461-00

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 2000

                                 RE: S.B. No. 2993
                                     S.D. 2
                                     H.D. 2




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2000
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No.
2993, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to address environmental
concerns by:

     (1)  Expanding the duties of the Environmental Council
          (Council) to conduct investigations to secure
          information concerning ecology and environmental
          quality;

     (2)  Requiring the Department of Health (DOH) to:

          (a)  Assess the effectiveness of its environmental
               hotlines; and

          (b)  Submit its analysis on the need to conduct an
               additional study on unplanned air releases;

     (3)  Requiring the Office of Planning (OP) to evaluate
          alternative means to resolve conflicts between the
          existing planned industrial activities within Campbell
          Industrial Park and the concerns of neighboring
          communities regarding toxic emissions and spills,
          noise, smells, and other public health concerns;

 
 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1461-00
                                 Page 2

 
     (4)  Requiring the Hawaii State Emergency Response
          Commission (Commission) to:

          (a)  Assess the risk posed to the public and the
               environment by facilities with aboveground
               chemical storage tanks throughout the State;

          (b)  Conduct a preliminary assessment of chemical
               facilities statewide; and

          (c)  Identify and conduct an in-depth evaluation of the
               twenty chemical facilities that may pose the
               greatest risks to human health and the
               environment; 

          and

     (5)  Appropriating funds:

          (a)  For the Commission's report on reducing the risks
               of chemical spills or releases; and

          (b)  To establish a permanent, full-time equivalent
               (FTE) planner IV position and a permanent, FTE
               secretary I position to be assigned to the Office
               of Environmental Control.

     DOH, OP, Office of Environmental Quality Control, Hawaiian
Electric Company and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric Company and
Hawaii Electric Light Company, Tesoro Hawaii Corporation, and the
Gas Company submitted comments on the measure.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your
Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No.
2993, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Finance,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DWIGHT Y. TAKAMINE, Chair